The mimosa route, an original way to visit the French Riviera by car
To learn all about the 130 km of the Mimosa Route, here are some tips for visiting the Côte d’Azur by car: itinerary, practical information, agenda… We suggest you rent a car in Toulon to explore this colorful route.
Discover the best of the Mimosa Route
The Mimosa Route is a 130 km itinerary, essential for getting a glimpse of the Côte d’Azur by car. Along this beautiful tourist escape, you will pass through 8 charming villages while traveling the roads of the Var and the Alpes Maritimes. Remarkable from December to March during the mimosa bloom, this route can be visited all year round.
The itinerary starts in Bormes-les-Mimosas, the mimosa capital of the Var, famous for its “golden buttonhole” that blooms from January to March. After visiting the old medieval town and the surrounding beaches, you take the D559 road to follow the Mediterranean Sea to Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, the second stop on the Mimosa Route, and the site of the Corniche des Maures for an incredible view of the coastline.
The route then takes you to Sainte-Maxime, where you can stroll through the typically Provençal streets and shop at the town’s traditional market. Then you continue to the seaside resort of Saint-Raphaël and its postcard-perfect port. From there, you take the magnificent Corniche d’Or road that overlooks the sea, to reach one of the small secluded coves along the coast.
A beautiful way to visit the Côte d’Azur by road
Skirting the majestic Esterel Massif, you enter the Alpes Maritimes for a stop in Mandelieu-la-Napoule where you can enjoy beautiful hikes on the Customs Officers’ Path and in the largest mimosa forest in Europe in the Tanneron Massif. To get there, leave the seaside and take the D92 road up to the villages of Tanneron and Pégomas. During the blooming season, you can admire the mimosas in the heart of an enchanting, fragrant, and golden landscape. Take the time to participate in one of the many traditional festivals typical of the Côte d’Azur that enliven the mimosa season.
Through the hinterland of Cannes, you then take the D209 road towards Grasse, the last stop on the Mimosa Route. Once you arrive in the historic streets of the old town, take advantage of being in the heart of the famous “perfume capital” to soak up this unique atmosphere of the Côte d’Azur and learn everything there is to know about perfume at the International Perfume Museum or in one of the perfumeries open to visitors.
